3 Slam Poems That Will Give You the Chills (Really Powerful Slam Poetry!)

These slam poets embrace every aspect of spoken word poetry

Sometimes syllables, sentences and stanzas are strung so tightly together you almost shed a tear when the lines bless your ears.

Slam poets know how to inspirit words with veracious vocabulary, animated expression and perfect inflection. Combine these three characteristics with lethal lines of sheer passion, and your neck hairs just might stand on end.

Spoken word artists have an innate knack for asserting attitude into every syllable, releasing brash and brazen statements that leave machete wounds in hearts and minds. Sometimes they may come off impudent, but the resonating effect is what makes slam poetry so vibrant today.

I’ve heard many a slam poem, and I respect them all. But once in a while, you hear that one that makes you quiver – that one poem that is so shocking, so deep and reverberates so true you can never forget it. Here are three slam poets that have completely embraced the power of the spoken word, and I’ve highlighted some of their lines that choke you below.

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1. Jamaica Osorio - before I say anything, please watch and listen...closely

I don't know that any words I add to this would add anything to her passion. The context of every feeling she endured is worn on her backwards hat, bore out there for you to absorb. Here are a couple lines that just rip me apart inside:

- "...an example of love and mistakes and how they are never and always the same..."
- "...a mother and her two daughters melting in a burning townhouse..."
- "...forgiveness is a human weakness, weakness is what makes us human..."
- "...we are a product of love, thus we do not exist..." - boy, how she led up to that was killer!
-"...3, I think she found out the answer before the rest of us did, and it scared her...I am not sure if I think she's selfish, or genius..."

On top of the lines, Jamaica is a dominant stage presence. Every syllable is emphasized in perfection to grab the audience by their collar, hold them in suspension and them slam them in the face with a reality. I can't say enough - this poem... this poem gives me the chills. Time and time again.

2. Danez Smith - "Dear Mrs. Thompson"

Before I get into the lines, I just want to tip my hat to Danez. He takes every essence of what slam poetry is, should and can be, and dumps it into every single line. He breaches topics that some leave buried, hidden from the world. His honesty, his graphic description of truth, are bold. That alone gives me the chills - but here are the lines that just make me shudder, in his context of course:

- "...all your walls are white, like lies..."
- "...he never brushes his teeth, can you taste the shame..."
- "...dear woman, I apologize if I've ever taken food out of your children's mouths"
- "...dear woman, have you ever wondered why it takes him so long to get dressed in the morning, his outfit, to disguise..."
- "he pays me... he is lying... next to you..."

3. Michael Lee - Probably one of my favorite slam poets for a number of reasons...most of his work is powerful, shocking and definitely gives me the chills. This one is called "Pass On"

I can't pick out the lines in particular that make "Pass On" so powerful. It's every line and the way they are strung together. This is the kind of poem that can help people. It's passionate. It's real and it's truth. It's a beating heart bleeding and reaching out for identification. It's an absolutely amazing spoken word piece.

Hopefully after viewing these three simply amazing, yet incredibly different, slam poets, you're inspired to put some amazing work together yourself. If you've got something sincerely special you want to share, let me know.

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image courtesy "the examiner"